Aslag: Sining 2021

THE KAPAMPANGAN SPIRIT AND RESISTANCE

WORKING UNDER THE NEW NORMAL

ON THE KAPAMPANGAN

SUPPORTING LOCAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 What is UP Aguman?

THE STAFF

2 What is Sining?

Editor-in-Chief Dominique Marie Capili

Layout Artists Mark Laurenz Garcia Jan Vincent Nogoy

Photojournalist Bitania Pangilinan

Contributors Nigel Christopher Ayson Lorenz Cabuling Alyssa Marie Calsa Harriet Mae Domingo Trizia Medina

MESSAGES: 3 Message from the President 4 Message from the Project Head

ARTICLES: 5 Sining 2021 Endures Under the New Normal 7 Mibalik Ka Pa? 8 Capanayan 9 Things that are Gone 11 Crowd Opinion: On The Kapampángan 12 Aláya and Agnotology: On "What is not there?"

13 #SupportLokal: Proudly Kapampángan

15 Activity: Match Her Courage

All rights reserved. 2021.

CONTACT US up.aguman@gmail.com up.aguman.sining@gmail.com fb.com/upaguman fb.com/AguSining @upaguman @upaguman

WHAT IS UP AGUMAN?

UP Aguman is a socio-civic, not-for-profit, serviceoriented organization of Kapampangan-speaking students based in the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Formally recognized on December 12, 1973, the organization embraces its aims to uphold the truth, promote man’s inherent goodness and capabilities, and appreciate the importance of human relations.

Staying true to these values, UP Aguman holds three flagship events annually in the service of the Kapampangan youth:

1. CEER, a college entrance exam review session for Grade 12 students

2. Pautakan, an academic quiz competition 3. Sining, an art competition For over 47 years, the organization has truthfully lived by its motto of non nobis solum (not for ourselves alone).

WHAT IS SINING? First held in 1982, Sining is UP Aguman’s answer to the call of preserving Kapampangan culture and heritage by cultivating the artistic and cultural talents of high school students in Pampanga. It is composed of both individual and group competitions in literature, visual arts, and performing arts. The event annually serves as an opportunity for Kapampangan students to showcase their various artistic talents.

PHOTO BY: BITANIA PANGILINAN

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Message from the President:

THE KAPAMPÁNGAN SPIRIT: REMEMBERING THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT PINATUBO

BY DOMINIQUE MARIE CAPILI, LUALU '18A

It was 30 years ago today when the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Pinatubo devastated the entire province of Zambales where it was situated and wreaked havoc upon adjacent provinces, with Pampanga bearing the brunt of its destruction.

On June 15, 1991, after the afternoon sky turned pitch black as Mount Pinatubo spewed out massive volcanic materials and produced an enormous cloud of volcanic ash, Typhoon Diding, also known as Tropical Storm Yunya, hit the northeastern part of the volcano on the same day and instigated a large amount of rainfall in the affected provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga, exacerbating the already distressing situation.

The ash ejected from the volcano mixed with the water vapor in the air caused heavy lahar flows. Thousands of roofs collapsed; homes, agricultural lands, towns, and infrastructure were swept away by lahar and buried deep under meters of volcanic ash; hundreds of people and animals died, and hundreds of thousands of families were left homeless. For all these reasons, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo is vivid and harrowing to the memories of the Kapampángan.

Several years have passed by, but that dark moment in history is not forgotten. Our Kapampángan elders would mostly recall stories of adversity when the devastating Pinatubo eruption is brought up. They would share how the whole town of Bacolor was buried under the lahar, especially the area where the San Guillermo Parish Church, known for being one of the oldest churches in the province, was located.

Revisiting the experiences they had during and after the tragic eruption is their way to remind themselves how they learned to live through and overcome such hardship. Moreover, it is their means to tell the youth of what they went through, hoping they can learn from their experiences in the event something similar occurs in the future. With that in mind, let me share a few things I was able to pick up from them: 1. Phones were not a thing back then, so communication was difficult. There was no easy access to the internet, unlike today. They had to wait until the evening falls for news and information from their fellow who just came back from their day jobs.

2. People had to cross on makeshift wooden bridges since rivers during those days were filled by lahars deposits and flooding occurred often.

3. The act of giving and sharing was common back in the days because there were families left with little or nothing.

Goods were handed out to each other as a sign of fellowship and solidarity.

If there is something we can gather from these experiences, it would be the spirit of communal unity and cooperation among the Kapampángan people during those troubled times. It was manifested through the evenings spent to share news and information, the makeshift wooden bridges built to use as bridges, and those valuables and goods shared by the community to each other.

Certainly, the value of kinship has contributed greatly as to why the Kapampángan did not succumb to the calamity.

Instead, they persevered and rose against the looming tides. I believe we have brought this spirit until this day as we face the continued threat of the coronavirus.

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo left detrimental impacts on all sectors of society. Our commemoration is our means of remembering those who perished, those who survived, and those who have lent a helping hand not just in the rehabilitation of the affected towns and provinces but also in the relocation and recovery of the Kapampángan people.

We do not forget; simply, we continue to illuminate the significance of courage, faith, and kinship—the essential traits that make up the spirit of the Kapampángan.

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Message from the Project Head:

THE TINY STEPS OF RESISTANCE

BY TRIZIA MEDINA, TANARA '19A

Throughout the years, different tides have come along the way of our very own language and culture, and at times, even strong waves have dared to wash it away, especially now that a smaller number of the Kapampangans are knowledgeable of their own language, our own indigenous script, and even other factors that also come into play. People say that we are starting to forget, but in the midst of all these, what we fail to realize is that the Kapampangan spirit continues to stand strong, and it continues to resist such odds even through the smallest steps that we take.

As one of our seniors always says, it’s never too late to start learning about our own language and culture. And as someone who is guilty of paying only little attention to our own culture before and has only recently “found my way back”, I can say that while there is still so much to learn, it has given me a new sense of connection with something that is enriched by a long line of ancestors, and a deeper sense of belonging with something that has always been there and something that connects so many people of the same roots together - a unique cultural identity that all of us could be proud of.

In this year’s Sining, we seek to make people realize that the Kapampangan spirit has endured all odds that came along its way, and it continues to brave the bigger tides each day. Instead of seeing the dark looming clouds as an end to a longstanding heritage that has been deeply engraved into our own identities, we should instead see it as a wake-up call to finally make a move that will allow it to thrive for the years to come. And don’t be afraid no matter how small the steps you take because all of this could play a part in our move forward and could even draw you closer to your Kapampangan roots.

If you’re not sure how to start, here are some ways I could think of: Discover. Continue digging and discovering more about Kapampangan, especially the “terrains” you have not yet explored before. Have you tried writing Kulitan? What do our indigenous folk songs say about our culture (or even our philosophical beliefs)?

Share. Don’t be afraid to share what you know (but make sure that you’ve checked your facts and stories, okay?). Maybe your friends just need that little push to start “journeys” of their own. Ask them things like the difference between Alaya and Arayat or the reason why we use the letters Q or C in spelling out Kapampangan words. And if you don’t know the answers to these yet, don’t worry because it’s never too late to learn about them.

Explore. Remember that there is not just a single way to explore or even to share about the things you learned. You may subscribe to social media pages of different organizations who promote Kapampangan, and you may also do your own short documentaries, infographics or even include Kulitan on your artworks if you feel like sharing more about your learnings.

This is just a very short list, but there are actually so much more that you can do. In fact, if you take a look around, we could see that there are different organizations who are committing themselves to reviving our own script, inviting cultural experts to their seminars, starting their own video series on Kapampangan culture, and sharing their Kapampanganinspired artworks on Twitter, and many more. For me, these are actually the tiny steps of resistance against the odds we are currently facing today, and you could also be a part of this, no matter how small the steps you take.

As someone who has become inspired to discover more about our own language and culture from short trivias and a simple test on Kapampangan culture and history (which I failed...miserably) shared with me by my friends (shout out to Marlo, our former Socio-Cultural Committee Chairperson), and as someone who continues to be fascinated with all the efforts to promote our culture on social media (may these be in the form of statements, infographics, videos, art, etc.), I want to tell all of you that your efforts are being seen - we see you and I believe you can reach even more people than you can imagine, you are capable of making greater ripple effects. That’s why if you’ve rekindled your own connection with our own language and culture or if you’re already doing your own “tiny steps”, I hope you continue on because there is so much more to explore and so many people that are yet to join our resistance against the odds before us.

In this year’s Sining, we focus not on the darkest clouds nor biggest waves looming before us, but on that tiny little warrior, the Kapampangan spirit living within all of us, who shines brightly in the face of the darkest clouds. Always remember that in our own little ways, together, we will resist.

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Sining 2021 Endures Under the New Normal

BY HARRIET MAE DOMINGO AND LORENZ CABULING, TANARA '19A

T

he onset of the global pandemic did not stop UP Aguman from holding one of Pampanga’s most recognized annual events: Sining 2021. Despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic, this year’s arts competition proved to be a success, thanks to the people behind it. Undoubtedly, some changes were made to accommodate the shift to a digital setting. Preparations were made, and challenges were faced by UP Aguman’s ever enduring tenacity.

According to Sining 2021 Head Trizia G. Medina, the preparations for the event started in January 2021. The online nature of the event became one of the challenges encountered both in preparation and execution. For the past few years, Sining has been held in SM Clark where not only the participating schools get to witness the event, but mall-goers as well. Communication was not an issue in the actual event as the organizers got to directly coordinate in the venue. With the switch to the virtual setting, new issues have arisen.

Particularly, technical difficulties along with internet concerns were a major concern. It was also difficult to address all the messages and concerns in a mere virtual meeting set-up during preparation. In the previous years, it has been tradition to invite schools personally and physically. This year, reaching out to schools was a challenge as well amidst the lockdown as communication with them was available only through email and online messaging.

Despite all these, it was all still very fulfilling for UP Aguman. The Sining 2021 team was able to pull through and make the event possible with

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the aid of the partners and through social media.

The main inspiration for Sining’s themes and subjects stemmed from the pandemic itself or rather, the uncertainty and optimism that goes along with it. The conception of this idea is not a difficult one, as the pandemic really brought forth the biggest and most relevant change in our daily lives. However, the challenge came from framing the crisis into something bigger and out of the frame per se.

How to frame a catastrophe into something that also demonstrates an undying trait and culture of a Kapampangan. Through simple online collaboration and communication, the research committee conceptualized the themes of what was to be the first Sining held online.

Since the only feasible option to conduct Sining 2021 was through online means, the logistics committee needed to carefully plan out how the submissions would be collected and how the culmination of the project would be held. Traditionally, Sining 2021 involved school-based participation but in order to maximize the online setting, the event catered to all willing and interested Kapampángan student individuals. Seven competitions were prepared for Sining 2021. The competitions were classified into two: submission-based and on-the-spot. For the submission-based competitions, there were two categories: individual (Komiks Making, Spoken Word Poetry, Solo Dance, and Lifestyle Photography)

and group (Songwriting, Short Film Making, and Case Competition). The only on-the-spot competition was the Case Competition as the participating groups needed to present their outputs.

For the collection of entries for all of the competitions, Google Forms was utilized. A total of 43 participants engaged in Sining 2021. The reception of Sining 2021 from the participants was overwhelming as this year is the first time the event was held virtually.

Throughout the years, the main goal of Sining was to showcase Kapampángan talent. This remained true even for the recent Sining 2021.

Event head Trizia Medina explains this further by citing “Our participants are one of the main reasons why we wanted to push forward with this year's Sining amid the pandemic. We wanted to bring back the annual event that brought different schools together in one place to showcase their talents - a high school memory they can always turn back to and an opportunity to learn and promote their culture.” This goal was especially important in the past year as Kapampángans faced different challenges due to the pandemic.

The culmination of the project was held in two consecutive weekends and broadcasted live on the official Facebook page of UP Aguman’s Sining. Both days garnered a total of 2,800 views.

This success would not be possible if it were not for the following partners: Clark Marriott Hotel, Ágúman Kalalangan Súlat Kapampángan, Inquirer, InqPOP, Move.PH Rappler, CLTV36, The Voice Newsweekly, Punto! Central Luzon, Pampanga360, Orchard: A Community Place, Idle Tech Auto Care Service Center and Smart Communications, Inc. At a time of uncertainty, the Sining team was not fazed and discouraged by the limitations. Instead, Sining 2021 still pushed through in its mission to promote the talents of the Kapampángan youth.

Photographed by Alexander Reuben Mercado, Lifestyle Photography 1st Placer

Missed Sining 2021?

Immerse yourself with the outputs of the outstanding Kapampangan youth by visiting the links below: Lifestyle Photography: bit.ly/Sining2021LifestylePhotography Komiks Making: bit.ly/Sining2021KomiksMaking Short Film Making Posters: bit.ly/Sining2021ShortFilmMakingPosters Songwriting Entries: bit.ly/Sining2021SongwritingEntries Solo Dance Entries: bit.ly/Sining2021SoloDanceEntries Short Film Making Entries: bit.ly/Sining2021ShortFilmMakingEntries Spoken Poetry Entries: bit.ly/Sining2021SpokenPoetryEntries Watched the livestreams of Days 1 and 2 by clicking the links below: Day 1: bit.ly/Sining2021DayOne Day 2: bit.ly/Sining2021DayTwo 6

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CAPANAYAN NANG MARIA FOREZA M. PANGILINAN

Sabi ng ima, ing bie eya mu dudurut king tula.

Dakal kanung kasakitan a malyaring sumira king matas a determinasyun da ring sabla.

At ing balang laban kanu pane king tagumpe, nune atin muring pangasawul at pusung liglig king lumbe.

Ngana pa, ing mapait a pangasubsub at pangasaldak king gabun ning e maupaya't dalise, yang tune makayaspak salu at makabagbag tibe.

Tutu pin naman.

Kanita, eku atindyan pauli ning kakung keyanakan, mangasdan ku mu kang ima at kabud kunemung kawulan pauli ning mura at didipendi kung isip na eku rin akutnan.

Oneng ngeni atin nakung sariling isip at pamanalakaran, akakit ku ing sablang mapupupus a gintung amanu ning kakung indu, uling ing katatagan mewala ne pamagsuyu kareng mangasakitan at mangayna pusu.

Ali makanyan.

Akung kekang pakiramdaman, makanyan keng ipasa keka ing amanu ning kakung tibwan, na ing pagsubuk, iyang albugan at ing pag-asa da reng tawu iyang tune aslagan.

Antimanu king upaya a tinatak kaku, manibat nyang eku maybug akabyusan nyang mewala ya kaku, ing ima kung menalakaran kung talaturu, kareng anggang amanu a kakung papasa kareng anggang tawung aspak pusu.

Uling peralis nakuman ning dalumdum, kapagsubukan a tuturing kung albugan, karas ning abak, pauli ning amanu ng ima ikwa ku pang matula king sala uling pepalto ya kareng bulag kung luwa ing sikan ning aslagan, na lamu sisitsit kanakung iti ing kapanayan, na andyang pepaynawa ne ing kekang pakamalan, ing andar ning bie mu emu tutuknangan.

Yamu rin.

King sitwasyun a kaku yang gaganakan nung makananu keng buring pasibayung damdaman, ing egana ganang turu a mayap at malalam kabaldugan, na andyang pang malunud ka, eka mipunta king karokan, uling ing pamagsisid keng tune upaya ning aldo at pangabengi, yang tuturu kekatamu nung makananu tamu dapat ngeni.

Inya pin sabe ka king kakung gulisak, masikan at papalakpak.

Bakanta aliwa mu ikata ing lumawe babo at kumabye kasalpantayanan.

Uling ing sala at dalumdum mung dadanasan at titingalan, atin yang Guinung dapat mung pakamalan, at e balang dalumdum mangabaldugan kasakitan uling maralas, ini ing keyang dalan bakanta balu meng tingalan at hulaga ing sala uling ibat ka keng panimanman a ala at makalawe baba.

Bakanta katalanga mu, eka mapagmatas a tawu at asopan mukung itas ing amanu ng ima ku.

Watch full performance here: bit.ly/spokenpoetrybyForezaPangilinan

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Things that are "Gone"

BY JOSEPH EMMANUEL LUGUE, TANARA '19A

There are definitely days when you wonder about the things that are "gone", whether it’s the radio hype of 2000s pop songs, the lover you once had good days with, the street you normally walk on after school, or the common longing we have today which is the “life” before this whole quarantine ordeal. You can’t help but reminisce the joys of polite to the most chaotic maskless conversations, the anxiety-free proximity with friends, and the overall state of the surroundings with one less problem of the pandemic—that nevertheless, amplified the need to address deepseated crises of autonomy, poverty, and divisiveness. Handling all of these things on a typical day in March of 2020 up to now caused us to feel anger, regret and grief; but above all, there is a dialogue for change. We begin to question the world around us concerning these things that are “gone.” Are we still the same people before the pandemic? Do we still find joy on the age-old mundane things from way back? Have we lost so much things already, and if we do, how do we get back?

Even long before the pandemic, the act of leaving things behind has been silently creeping as we generally favor the trends of today. Beginning at your home with your grandmother’s divan being replaced by a foldable Lifetime bench, or the wooden aparador in your room turning into a floating DIY cabinet. Once you go talk with your friends, you use kumusta instead of komusta when you greet your classmates working on a 5hour sleep schedule. You blurt out buti nalang instead of osimap upon hearing that your Biology dance Performance Task is moved next week or patulong instead of saupan mu ku when your eyes are filled with tears over an Accounting assignment. There is also the tendency of events like fiestang balen or family reunions faltering in production and promotion, having only older generations as the participants. We hear the whispers of regret by some, wondering what they can do to bring back the same festive experiences they had when they were younger. Our relatives often compare the life they had from long ago with the life we have today; from their adventurous path to their schools, the nightmarefueled corporal punishments of their parents, the old value of Peso, the traditions, and many more that you can make novels about.

With all of these things, we wonder why things happen. Have we outgrown the past, or did someone simply told us to leave it? Are we to blame for leaving, or those who can’t keep up or are struggling with the present time? Oftentimes in social media, there are sudden bursts of revival of ancient practices, but they shrink in a form of a romanticized fluff that only focuses on the present whims of viewers rather than the entire complex context that it has—then it burns out from the interest of the public. Local arts and crafts are overlooked in terms of function and become mere pasalubung in travels. Palayuks become a side table décor for cooking. Playlists of Kapampángan

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songs are only played at cultural gatherings. Our language is shunned with “English Only Rule,” or with little to no spotlight in Buwan ng Wika every August. If we are to keep honoring our culture in just a form of an endless cycle of throwbacks, we are basically holding on loosely to a past that is slowly becoming estranged to us.

So what are we ought to do to acquaint ourselves with the past? Is there even a need to do that in the first place? We may have our inner thoughts talking in Filipino, but at the same time we are thinking of going home due to a sudden craving for your ápu’s sísig. We may bust our hips on Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer on Christmas parties, but you eagerly yearn for the grand exhibition of Ligligang Parul. We may see a lot of towering skyscrapers but we know how to spot Bunduk Aláya when we see it across the highway.

You see, they have always been there, ever so familiar. While we may equip ourselves with the knowledge of the present, it is not necessary for us to treat the past as an antiquated narrative. We belong in a timeline, an ever improving and continuing path of people learning as they go along. If we are to deny these things, we become the spineless ones who follow everything what

others dictate us to do for we see them bigger. The result of that is a pitiful picture of people living in a land that they vaguely recognize. Not everything is to be thrown away when something new arrives, especially in culture since traditions and culture are rooted into something after all.

With these things, should we then loathe what has become of us and aggressively dismantle things that are not so Kapampángan? Should we be the oppressors of tomorrow as a payback to the revolutions our ancestors didn't fight for and the time when institutions didn’t advocate for us? No. We can seek accountability regarding these things and do any means necessary to damages that can be repaired. All the more, it’s about bringing back our seat to the table. We should be able to connect the pieces of our Kapampángan self again, from speaking the local language in our own household, to reading books about the Kapampángan people in history, learning modules about our own culture and arts, and socializing with our kaluguran or kasíping bale. Doing these things from the mundane to the technical on a habit that is not performative relives the past. With these varied means, we can bring back the things that are gone.

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CROWD OPINION: On The Kapampangan

BY ISABELLA RUTH LINGAT, LUALU '18A with loud cracking laughter and booming voices that are rarely heard in coffee shops in the Metro.

PHOTO BY: BITANIA PANGILINAN

The Kapampángans have always maintained a generally positive image since the time of the colonization period in the country. As one of the first provinces to stage a rebellion against the Spanish regime, the Kapampángans have upheld this pride of being one the country’s leaders.

Kapampángan excellence has persisted up to the current era, with former presidents hailing from the province. There is no doubt that the Kapampángan people are invaluable citizens with a diverse skill set. We then wonder, do nonKapampángans see us the same way? Are we seen as the brave and proud Kapampángan we always thought of ourselves as?

I got to know varied opinions held on the Kapampángan people after I moved to Quezon City. There are always different reactions when my acquaintances find out that I am Kapámpangan.

Some of these are positive, while some are negative. The commonality about these varied perspectives on Kapampángan, however, is that they know who we are. If that does not signify the mark of Kapampángan in the country, then I don’t know what does. And so, here are the top three opinions held by non-Kapampángan people on the Kapampángan. Whether you believe these to be true is up to you.

The Kapampángans are loud. This opinion was born out of Kapampángan who talk excitedly in loud voices whenever they meet a fellow Kapampángan. The Kapampángan accent is one that is easily distinguishable and most Kapampángan people wield the language without minding the volume. Unsurprisingly, cafés in Pampanga rarely become quiet. This was the first thing I noticed whenever I went back home and stayed in cafes. The Kapampángan cafés are filled

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The Kapampángans are into religious traditions.

The Kapampángan people are especially known for their unique religious traditions during the Lenten season. We are familiar with the sights of magdaráme and the ritual of the crucifixion held every year at San Pedro, Cutud. These traditions have exceeded the bounds of the province and have become iconic events associated with the Kapampángan spirituality. During my years of studying in the Metro, different students were interested in the Kapampángan Lenten traditions enough to write research articles about them.

These are also often mentioned in classes dealing with cultural studies, sociology, and theology.

The Kapampángans are the best cooks. The number of times non-Kapampángan people associate food with the Kapampángans are too many to count. For the longest time, Pampanga is known as the culinary capital of the Philippines.

The opinion on Kapampángan people and being the best in cooking is unsurprising and expected.

Kapampángan cuisine rose to prominence due to the original dishes that originated from the province. The whole country knows the Kapampángan sísig. Apart from the famous sísig, however, there are more original Kapampangan cuisines that caught the public eye. One of these is the Búrung Bulig or Balo Balo. Búrung Bulig is a fermented recipe made from mudfish and rice while Balo Balo is made from shrimp and rice.

Another notable Kapampángan dish is the Bringhe, the Kapampángan rice dish comparable to the Spanish Paella.

When we think of it, the opinions on Kapampángan by non-Kapampángans are not so far off from what we think of ourselves. Is this because Kapampángan are well-known for their characteristics or do we pose much interest for other people? No matter the reason for these much held perspectives, Kapampángan excellence has always persisted throughout time.

No matter where a Kapampángan goes, he brings with him the pride of one having hailed from the infamous province of Pampanga. And so, spread out and take up space, my fellow Kapampángan.

The eyes of the country are always on the lookout for the next feat of the Kapampangan.

ALÁYA AND AGNOTOLOGY: On "What is not there?"

BY NIGEL CHRISTOPHER AYSON, TANARA '19A Aside from being the name of the mountain, Aláya is said to be a native Kapampángan philosophical concept talking about "what is not there" [1]. It is quite close to the idea of nothing, or "the absence of something" to expound it further. It might lead us to think: how can we possibly talk about Aláya if it is about nothing? How can something be nothing?

For starters, we’ll take a plain cup for example. Where is the “cup-ness” of a cup, if not for its Aláya – that which is not there? We talk about the empty space inside the cup, where we put water, juice, coffee, or any kind of liquid in. Is it really… empty?

Where is the “bowl-ness” of a bowl, if not for its Aláya – that which is not there? We talk about the hollow space where we put food like rice or soup in. If not for that hollowness, can we still call it a bowl?

Where is the “room-ness” of a room, if not for its Aláya – that which is not there? We talk about the vacant space inside it, where we move around, put our furniture in… doesn’t that vacancy substantially define what we consider a room?

So, Aláya comes very close to the relatively new concept called agnotology, the study of ignorance [2]. For agnotology, ignorance is not just any gap or void that needs to be “filled”. Rather, it is actually what gives knowledge its overall structure. That is why when we decide to focus on knowing A, we inevitably choose to ignore B (hence, “scope and delimitations” becomes an important aspect in our research papers). We cannot possibly know everything, and some would even argue that knowing everything might not be a good idea.

Contrary to its general perception, ignorance could also be virtuous as knowledge can be dangerous (e.g., juries have a sense of ignorance when it comes to court rulings, whereas knowledge can be a form of bias).

Knowledge and ignorance, then, are two sides of the same coin. Since ignorance is not necessarily something that is omitted, it could also be deliberately produced and/or maintained in a given structure. The society we live in provides a myriad of examples on how ignorance is delivered.

Ignorance is found in many, different places. It exists in our rights to privacy, our strategies to win over games (hidden from our opponents), or whenever we keep secrets to protect other’s sensibilities. It thrives when government institutions perpetuate false news, misinformation, or diversionary tactics to keep people either distracted or divided among themselves. It emerges in commercial industries, like how tobacco companies deliberately maintain consumers at a certain level of ignorance to keep them on smoking cigarettes (despite the apparent health hazards it posed). It continues to live on whenever science discovers new knowledge, thus opening new possibilities for further knowing. Johannes Kepler could not have said it better: “ignorance is the mother who dies to give birth to science”. It could be used for the good, and it could be used for the not-so-good; it’s left for us to decide which road we take.

Aláya, that which is not there, is no different from ignorance. In fact, it could be argued that ignorance is a facet of Aláya. May it be in the form of uncertainty, disinformation, stupidity, apathy, secrecy, forgetfulness, censorship, or silence, ignorance makes up a substantial aspect of our being. Who could have thought that nothing can make up something, like humanity as a whole?

Hence, we could ask: where is the humanity of humans, if not for Aláya – that which is not there? We talk about the things we can’t see, such as our values, beliefs, attitude, and aspirations among many other things. We don’t see it… but we know it’s there.

Once we realize Aláya in our lives, we get a better view of the world around us. More importantly, in our current state of affairs, it helps us recognize the social injustices that we experience in this world. It helps us decode the language of oppressors, and resist oppression together as one. From the words of Abigail Thorn, it becomes clear why Socrates was the wisest man in Athens… for him saying “I know that I know nothing.”

References: [1] Michael Pangilinan. (2021). Atin Ku Pung Singsing | What does it actually mean? [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2M6F6m9oYk [2] Proctor, R. N., & Schiebinger, L. (2008). Agnotology: The making and unmaking of ignorance.

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PROUDLY KAPAMPÁNGAN

BY ALYSSA MARIE CALSA, LUALU '18A

As we continuously explore things that might interest us, we eventually discover our passion. For other people, this passion combined with their entrepreneurial mindset led to them founding their own small businesses. As part of UP Aguman’s initiatives for the recently concluded Sining 2021, we partnered with ten small Kapampangan businesses which have also shown their continuous support for our event. Make sure to check out their social media accounts for their offerings, and as always, #SupportLokal and #SupportSmallBusinesses!

1. Ambient Mood @ambient_mood ambientmood2020@gmail.com Angeles City Pampanga

cravings, thus the name. Now, the business is thriving to satisfy one's craving one bite at a time, whenever the need arises. Here at Quaravings, we post a menu per batch, filled with the classics and special requests (exclusive for the batch).

(Online Store)

Ambient Mood offers hand-poured scented soy candles and luxury car fragrances made in small batches. Every purchase makes a difference as a percentage of the sales is donated to our chosen beneficiary, Tuloy Pampanga Foundation, a shelter that caters poor, abandoned, homeless boys from ages 7-17 years old.

4. Caution Coffee and Supply @cautioncoffeeph /cautioncoffee www.cautioncoffeesupply.com 0998 541 7793 Pulung Cacutud, Angeles City, Pampanga

2. GO GROW & GLOW Child and Nutrition Clinic 09177210536

Caution Coffee and Supply is a café and supply store located in Angeles City, Pampanga providing the best quality of local and international coffee beans, tea, coffee supplies, and accessories from around the world to consumers and partner coffee stores.

gogrowandglowclinic@gmail.com

An online clinic dedicated to the promotion of child health, the importance of nutrition for overall wellbeing, and the holistic approach for a healthy lifestyle. Caters to child and adolescent health concerns, general medical nutrition and diet therapy.

5. D Picturesque Photography 0961 230 527 dpicsturesque.dgb@gmail.com danniabondoc6@gmail.com Angeles City, Pampanga

3. Quaravings @quaravings /quaravings @jtwano 09175770222 Angeles City, Pampanga

Quaravings (pronounced as cravings) was established on June 2020, amidst the pandemic; it was initially a temporary pop-up online shop for your Quarantine 13

We have been capturing moments worth freezing in a frame since 2018. We specialize in photographs with stories to tell and as a token to memories. Started off as a hobby, we continuously venture into new dimensions of arts and entrepreneurship.

Do you want your Kapampangan business to be featured next?

Send us an email at aguman.mktg@gmail.com and we'll be glad to help you get featured on our next Aslag issue!

6. Dainty Drizzles @daintydrizzles Dainty Drizzles @daintydrizzles

9. Alpas Accessories @alpas.pamp 0905 937 7225 San Fernando, Pampanga

Isang maliit na Instagram-based shop na nagtitinda ng natatangi at abot-kayang mga palamuti. Naglalayon itong lumaya, kumawala at tumakas sa anumang sinasambit ng iba upang basagin ang naitatag na stereotype at pagtuunan ang natatanging kagandahan ng mga anghel sa kalupaan.

daintydrizzles@gmail.com Floridablanca, Pampanga

Dainty Drizzles crafts resin keychains, pet tags, phone cases, and more for everyone looking for something unique and personalized.

10. Park Road Café 0906 215 5107 San Fernando, Pampanga

A home-based business specializing in custom cakes, cupcakes, and other pastries.

7. Pintagram.ph @pintagram.ph /pintagram.ph @pintagram.ph pintagram.ph@gmail.com 0967 754 5966 Bulaon Resettlement, City of San Fernando, Pampanga & Manibaug Paralaya, Porac, Pampanga

Pintagram.ph is a collection of hand-painted products ranging from clay and concrete pots, coasters, paintings on canvas and more. It is a passion project by Aira Cunanan and partner, Christian Puno.

8. Triyhaw's Baked Pastries 0956 829 9590 Triyhaw’s Baked Pastries Sta Catalina, Minalin & St Jude Solana Homes, San Fernando Pastries that are meticulously made at home and filled with love

Trivia about Pampanga

Recognized to be the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines” and “The Christmas Capital of the Philippines,” the province is considered to be a site of booming economy and rapid growing marketplace of different industries.

Pampanga’s significant location for tourism and business is one of the many reasons why the province keeps on attracting not just visitors but also investors. In fact, there are about 25,945 registered businesses, the second highest in the region, as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on its Regional Social and Economic Trends report in 2020. In 2019, Pampanga has the highest exports with over PHP9.0 billion in total, combining the exports made by the Clark TI Special Economic Zone and Clark International Airport.

Source: http://rsso03.psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/202 0%20RSET.pdf

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Match Her Courage Direction: Match each Kapampangan women with their corresponding photo.

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Simeona Punsalan-Tapang •

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Adriana Sangalang-Hilario

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Praxedes Fajardo y Puno

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Elena Poblete

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Nicolasa Dayrit y Panlilio

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Felipa Culala

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Remedios Gomez-Paraiso

Check your answers by clicking this link: bit.ly/BraveKapampanganWomen

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NON NOBIS SOLUM